“House Full” For Pacific Trade Expo

“House Full” For Pacific Trade Expo

With over a month to go before the inaugural Pacific Trade Expo opens its doors at the TelstraClear Events Centre in Manukau City, every one of the 110 available stands has been taken.

“This is a huge vote of confidence and an indication of the level of interest in expanding intra-Pacific trade,” Gilbert Ullrich, chair of the New Zealand Pacific Business Council said today.

The NZPBC is a not-for-profit organisation, established last year to facilitate and boost two-way trade amongst Pacific countries.

Mr Ullrich said the fact that there would be a wide representation from New Zealand importers and exporters at the expo - and from importers and exporters from the Pacific- was also encouraging.

“The object of the expo is to encourage two-way trade and investment across the region,” Mr Ullrich said.

“There is not one Pacific nation which will not derive economic benefit from the strengthening of trade ties and the expansion of business activity – and that includes New Zealand,” Mr Ullrich said.

“New Zealand merchandised trade with the Pacific is now a little over $ 1 billion. That sounds substantial, but the fact is that the potential for further growth is huge. We have really only scratched the surface.”

He said the expo would give New Zealand companies – particularly small-to-medium enterprises not previously in exporting – the opportunity to learn of the opportunities “at their back door.”

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